Episode 91-Doherty, Norah, and Ma
Irish Music Stories Podcast
As tunes and songs get passed around they transform. Airs and hornpipes turn into jigs or reels, entire parts get added or condensed, melodies change, words alter or are forgotten altogether (until the song becomes just a tune). In this episode, singer Niamh Parsons and host Shannon Heaton trace a tune and its words back to its source. It’s a celebration of listening, and finding the story in a song together. _________________ For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion essays, and to contribute to this project, please head to https://shannonheatonmusic.com/ims/
info_outline
Episode 90-Sweeping Through the Classics
Irish Music Stories Podcast
For this episode of Irish Music Stories, host Shannon Heaton talks to Clare fiddler Sorcha Costello to dig down to the roots of a botanically named tune, And to explore the beauty of enduring classics. _________________ For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion essays, and to contribute to this project, please head to ShannonHeatonMusic.com
info_outline
Episode 89-Singing Out and Lifting Up
Irish Music Stories Podcast
For this installment of Irish Music Stories, host Shannon Heaton tucks into an old jig that has become known as The Morning Lark. It’s an exploration of cartoonists and journalists, and the power of names and name calling. Above all, it’s a celebration of a little jig in D that continues to resonate and transform. _________________ For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion essays, and to contribute to this project, please head to ShannonHeatonMusic.com
info_outline
Episode 88-Dark Mysteries Bright Melodies
Irish Music Stories Podcast
Early 20th century musician George White painted the New York scene with dance tunes on his piccolo; and the tune bearing his name has gone on to enchant generations of Irish musicians. Well before that, a piper lured 130 children with his sweet playing (and his colorful clothes). There’s no bankruptcy of mystery or chirpy melodies in this first episode of Season 10 of Shannon Heaton’s Irish Music Stories. _________________ For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion essays, and to contribute to this project, please head to
info_outline
Episode 87-Revisited Fairy Forts and Changelings
Irish Music Stories Podcast
As magical new Irish music podcasts emerge, as dark forces swirl around the world, and as much of the northern hemisphere enters into shorter, colder days, the Irish Music Stories re-investigates lore and mystery surrounding Irish fairies. With care and caution—and with young co-producer Nigel—fiddle players Tara Connaghan and Martin Hayes, singer Emily Smith, and storyteller Máirtín de Cógáin help explore songs and stories about the Sí. ________________________________ Thank you to everybody for listening. And a special thank you to recent underwriters: Harish Babu Arunachalam,...
info_outline
Episode 86-King of the Bees (IMS Sidequest)
Irish Music Stories Podcast
In this six-episode “Sidequest” series, Irish Music Stories host Shannon Heaton shares music from her “Perfect Maze” album (pollinator-inspired compositions for flute, strings, piano, and voice). And in keeping with the IMS mission, she also incudes stories that helped her navigate the whole project. For this final (sixth) installment #6 she talks about the heartbreak and beauty of mortality, and (not so silly) naked rulers, and why there are no kings in the bee world. _________________ For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion essays, and to contribute to this project,...
info_outline
Episode 85: Red Rose and White Lotus (IMS Sidequest)
Irish Music Stories Podcast
In this six-episode “Sidequest” series, Irish Music Stories host Shannon Heaton shares music from her “Perfect Maze” album (pollinator-inspired compositions for flute, strings, piano, and voice). And in keeping with the IMS mission, she also incudes stories that helped her navigate the whole project. For installment #4 she talks of kings and royal roses, and spiritual leaders and mud-born lotus plants; and how it takes a team and timing for plants—and for humans—to transform. _________________ For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion essays, and to contribute to this...
info_outline
Episode 84: William of Orange (IMS Sidequest)
Irish Music Stories Podcast
In this six-episode “Sidequest” series, Irish Music Stories host Shannon Heaton shares music from her “Perfect Maze” album (pollinator-inspired compositions for flute, strings, piano, and voice). And in keeping with the IMS mission, she also incudes stories that helped her navigate the whole project. For installment #4 she breaks down one movement of her Flute Duel (with talk of cadenzas, Nuevo Tango influences, and butterfly flight patterns). She also shares stories about the ancient monarch butterfly’s namesake and its Mexican guardians. _________________ For playlists,...
info_outline
Episode 83-Copper Over Navy (IMS Sidequest)
Irish Music Stories Podcast
In this six-episode “Sidequest” series, Irish Music Stories host Shannon Heaton shares music from her “Perfect Maze” album (pollinator-inspired compositions for flute, strings, piano, and voice). And in keeping with the IMS mission, she also incudes stories that helped her navigate the whole project. For installment #3, she highlights the Blue Dress motif, one of the recurring melodies on Perfect Maze. And she tells the story of weathering updates and tragedies of primates and men with a few different hues. _________________ For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion...
info_outline
Episode 82-Aristotle in Spring (IMS Sidequest)
Irish Music Stories Podcast
In this six-episode “Sidequest” series, Irish Music Stories host Shannon Heaton shares music from her “Perfect Maze” album (pollinator-inspired compositions for flute, strings, piano, and voice). And in keeping with the IMS mission, she also incudes stories that helped her navigate the whole project. For installment #2, she examines her Sweetest Blooms Suite and considers some of the dramatic Spring blossoms in Aristotle’s day. _________________ For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion essays, and to contribute to this project, please head to
info_outlineHow do artists paint trad? And how do they capture the sounds and feelings—and the bigger stories behind Irish music and dance—in two dimensions? In conversations with Brian Vallely, James Gurney, Vincent Crotty, and Catharine Kingcome, host Shannon Heaton explores Travelling pipers, a dilapidated hotel in the Hudson Valley, Dudley Street dance hall in post WWII America, and a country home in County Clare.
Plenty of music here, too. Full playlist below.
* * * * * * *
Special thanks to everybody for listening. And thank you to Robert McOwen, Lance Ramshaw, Chris Murphy, Richard Kuhwarth, Mark Haynes, John Kerr, Will Coleman, David Vaughan, Brian Benscoter, Joe Garrett, and Gerry Corr
Please CLICK HERE if you can kick in to support this podcast!
* * * * * * *
* * * * * * *
Music Heard on IMS Episode 29
all music traditional, unless otherwise indicated
Tune: “Free the Heel,” from Kitchen Session
Artist: Matt Heaton guitar
Tune: “Dear Irish Boy,” from Swimming Against The Falls
Artist: Joey Abarta
Tune: “The Bull’s March,” from The Raven's Rock
Artist: Cillian Vallely
Tune: “Silver,” from Silver
Artist & Composer: Hanneke Cassel
Tune: “Grupai Ceol Memories,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton guitar
Montage: Montage from The Travelling People
Artists: Various members of English Traveller Community, Produced by Ewan MacColl, Peggy Seeger & Charles Parker
Tune: “Dark Low Jig” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton guitar
Tune: “Wicklow Hornpipe,” from Swimming Against The Falls
Artist: Joey Abarta
Song: “Terror Time,” from The Travelling People
Artists: Joe Heaney (voice)
Composer: Ewan MacColl
Tune: “Mutey Big Build” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton guitar
Song: “Will Ye Go Lassie, Go,” from Wild Mountain Thyme
Artist: The McPeake Family
Tune: “A Chailleach Do Mharais Me/The Gold Ring,” from The Celtic Uilleann Pipes Collection - Volume 1
Artist: Brian Vallely
Tune: “Meaning of Life” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton guitar
Tune: “Rakish Paddy,” from The Last of the Travelling Pipers
Artist: Felix Doran
Tune: “Drifting Clouds,,” from The Joy of First Year Piano
Composer: Denes Agay
Artist: Nigel Heaton
Tune: “Song of Dinotopia,” AKA Lift up your heads, Ye mighty Gates (Hymn #436) AKA TRURO, from Episcopal Hymnal
Composer: Lowell Mason (1792-1872), words Georg Weissel (1590-1635)
Artist: Shannon Heaton
Tune: “Pound the Floor” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton guitar
Tune: Jackie Coleman’s” reel from Music at Matt Molloy’s
Artists: Matt Molloy & Friends
Tune: “Siege of Ennis,” from Copley Records release
Artist: Johnny Powell and his Band
Tune: “Leaving JP” from Silver
Artist & Composer: Hanneke Cassel
Tune: “Liam O’ Súilleabhaín & Brístí Breaca” AKA Bill Sullivan’s & Britches Full of Stitches from Jackie Daly Agus Séamus Creagh
Artist: Jackie Daly & Séamus Creagh
Tune: “Job of Journeywork,” from Cover the Buckle
Artist: Séan Clohessy, Sean McComiskey & Kieran Jordan
Tune: “Little Bird Lullaby,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton guitar
Tune: “Slow Reel,” from January EP
Artist: The Assembly
Tune: “Kiss the Maid Behind the Barrel,” from House Session
Artists: Boston and Clare musicians
Tune: “Doberman’s Wallet,” from Malden Fiddle lesson
Artist: Tommy Peoples
Tune: “Triumph Theme,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton guitar
Tune: “The Traveller,” from Kitchen Session
Artists: Matt & Shannon Heaton
Tune: “Wild Irishman & The Sailor’s Bonnet,” from Paddy Keenan
Artist: Paddy Keenan
Poem: “No Fixed Abode,” from Kitchen Session
Artist: Anne Marie Kennedy